knitting, baking, dollmaking

Mend

January 27, 2015

2015::365::12-13

Last year, around this time, I gifted B a pair of hand-knitted socks. (They were supposed to be a Solstice gift but it just didn’t happen.) This year, I had the pleasure of mending those very socks. Yes, I said pleasure. Pleasure in knowing that something I knitted for someone I love was appreciated and utilized to the point of being worn through. Pleasure in having the skill and opportunity to give that same something more life with just a little time and, really, minimal effort. Now that I know how quick and rather simple darning is, I can’t imagine ever not doing it.

I used the “re-knit and graft” method as described by Kate Gilbert for Twist Collective. I chose this method because the holes really were big enough to need a patch rather than mere reinforcement. I also like that the patch is knit like the rest of the fabric, not woven. As this is a worsted weight sock, you can see the patches a bit but I imagine that they will blend with time.

I’ve also been eyeballing some of the blown out knees in the kids’ jeans and thinking about a possible sashiko project.

Like this:

Related

I find mending so rewarding. I remember hearing a “This I Believe,” essay on NPR once by a pastor. She was talking about how much she has come to appreciate mending because it represents the mending of relationships. We have a tendency to walk away from relationships just as we have a tendency to send holey socks to the trash bin. I loved this and planted the seed for my now love of mending. Unfortunately, no matter how much I do, there is always a huge basket from our hard working family of five! The socks look amazing. I am not a very good darner yet.